Poet in the City is a new poetry charity which is doing a lot to change attitudes to poetry and to build new audiences for poetry in London and the South East.  With a membership of over 2,000 people the charity’s events regularly attract audiences of between 250 and 400 people, of whom an average of 25% are attending their first ever poetry event!

 

The charity runs 15-25 high profile poetry events of this sort every year, covering the full range of poetic achievement from the poems of the ‘late greats’ to the best known contemporary poets and the rising stars of the spoken word and performance poetry scene. Since October 2008 it has been running a series of fabulous events at Kings Place, the new home of Guardian News and Media, just north of King’s Cross. 

 

As an organisation Poet in the City has succeeded in mobilising those with a passionate interest in poetry, and in reaching out to a wide audience of the curious and the interested. Its innovative and dynamic approach takes in everything from placing poets in schools, text-based public art commissions and major international poetry collaborations. The charity’s work would not be possible without the support of over 50 committed volunteers, including many who are under 25. The success of the charity and its diverse events demonstrates beyond any doubt that poetry is not just a niche or a minority interest but has the potential to win audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

 

This year, as usual, Poet in the City is celebrating National Poetry Day in style with a poetry breakfast taking place at 8.00am in the morning at the offices of a City law firm, and featuring the fabulous poet Polly Clark. At 7.00pm in the evening of the same day it is holding a Heroes and Heroines event in the main auditorium at the National Portrait Gallery near Trafalgar Square featuring, amongst others, the fabulous surgeon poet Dannie Abse.

 

If you would like to find out more about this exciting new poetry phenomenon or would like to attend one of its events on National Poetry Day please visit the charity’s website at www.poetinthecity.co.uk or contact us on info@poetinthecity.co.uk or 07908 367488.

 

In the meantime may I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy National Poetry Day for Thurs 8 October!

Graham Henderson
Chief Executive
Poet in the City